Puzzle.



'1. 1. TIERNAN.

PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- Hiv 19H.

1, 1%4,799 v Patented June 29, 1915.

' r srarus ra Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented June 29, 1915.

Application filed October 16, 1914. Serial No. 866,889.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH J. TIERNAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to puzzles of that type embodying a holdingreceptacle or box member having a plurality of shiftable blocks ordevices of interfitting contour and bearing characters, letters, wordsand designs arranged and positioned to effect, by

predetermined moves, the solution sought through interchange of theblocks or de vices without displacement from the receptacle and toproduce in the present instance a reversal of certain surfacegeometrical configurations relatively to an initial disposition of thepuzzle components, thereby affording amusement and entertainment as wellas mental advantages by necessary concentration of thought and study tosolve the puzzle.

The improved puzzle in addition to the foregoing advantages may be usedefficiently as a medium of advertisement or for the purpose ofpertinently exploiting difl'erent articles of merchandise.

- In the drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved puzzleshowing all the blocks or components in normal position. Fig. 2 is asimilar View of the improved puzzle showing the majority of the blocksor components in interchanged position and the designs or geometricalconfigurations and the characters thereon reversed.

The puzzle comprises a receptacle or box 5 which in the present instanceis preferably of square form and in practice will be provided with asuitable cover or closure. The movable components or pieces are in theform of cubical blocks arranged in design and character groups 6 and 7,single filling blocks 8 having characters thereon, and what may betermed a key block 9 also bearin a distinct character as well as theword ut and a further character that regularly coordinates withcharacters on the groups 6 and 7. The characters of similar kind on allthe blocks are letters of the alphabet, and as there are sixteen blocksin the complete set, the letters included are fromA to P. The groups 6are in pairs and each air respectively'bears the letters B ,7 E and I, Cand L and N and O. In addition the pairs of blocks comprised in thegroups 6 bear geometrical designs or elements which in the presentinstance are in the form of two different sets of arcs of a circle, oneare 10 of each block of this group being normally out of registrationwith relation to the adjacent alined block next to the receptacle or boxrim 11, and the remaining arcs 12 of the same blocks terminallycoinciding or registering to form a chord, and all of the chords of thegroups 6 normally form a complete circle traversing the several pairs ofthe blocks of these groups as clearly shown. The groups 7 are centrallylocated and consist of four blocks constituting what may be termed aninclosed field or guiding center which remains in central position whensolving the puzzle. Each of the blocks of the group 7 is free to beremoved, but for the purposes of solution of the uzzle this groupremains in a practically xcd position. The blocks of the group 7 areeach provided With arrows 13 and 14 at diagonally opposite corners andpointing reversely, the inner arrows 13 pointing inwardly and the arrows14 having an outward pointing direction.

The puzzle is rendered more interesting and certain of accurate solutionby difi'erently coloring the arcs or elements 10 and 12 and the arrows13 and 14. Consequently the arcs or elements 10 in the present instanceare blue and the arcs or elements 12 are red, and the arrows 13 are blueand the arrows 14- are red. These colors may be modified or varied atwill.

The key block 9 controls the movements of the blocks of the groups 6 andthe blocks 8, and is removed from the box when desired to solve thepuzzle, the latter essentially involving fifteen blocks. On this keyblock in addition to the Word Out as heretofore explained is the letterP and a star 15 which serves as an accentuating symbol in regard to thecontrol of this block as to the movement of the shiftable groups 6. p

The several blocks may also be provided with suitable advertisingmatter-cl1aracters or devices, such as the names of certain classes ofgroups or articles of merchandise or any other matter.

As shown by I ig. 1, the red arcs or elements 12 complete the circlearound the inclosed fielder guiding center comprising the groupof blocks7, and the letters of the alphabet read in regular sequence. The objectof the puzzle or the solution thereof consisting in reversing orchanging the arcs or elements 10 and 12 so that the arcs or elements12will form the circle in red and vice versa. The key block 9 is firstremoved fromthe receptacle 5 so as to provide space.

for movement of the groups 6 and block 8.

The group 6 and D -blook' 8' at the right is then drawn downwardly, thetop group 6 and A block 8 is moved to the right, the left group 6 and Mblock 8 is next moved inwardly and then the bottom group 6 including theL block of the adjacent group 6 is then moved to the left and so onuntil thered circle is completely dismembered and the arcs 12 orcomponents thereof are worked to the outside and all the blue arcs 10are innermost and form the circle when the letters of the alphabet'willbe reversed as shown by Fig. 2. If desired the blocks of the group 7 maythen be turned tobring the blue arrows 13 outermost and the red ar Irowsl l innermost or all grouped at the center, or in positions reverseto their respective positions when the red circle was formed as shown byFig. l. The red circle may again be formed by shifting the groups 6 andblocks 8 in reverse directlons. v

The improved puzzle as above explained will be found both amusing andinstructive,

as well as a profitable advertising medium,

and changes in the proportions and dimen sions may be adopted at will,

What is claimed is 1, A puzzle comprising a receptacle, a plurality ofcubical blocks all hearing letwhich is withdrawn from the receptacle topermit movement of the said shiftable groups.

2. A puzzle comprising a receptacle, a plurality of cubical blocks allbearing letters and embodying shiftable groups, individual blocks of onegroup having difi'er ently colored dual geometrical elements at theouter and inner portions thereof in reverse positions and singlelettered blocks, the

' group of blocks carrying the dual geometrical elements being movableto alternately bring the elements thereol inwardly toward the center ofthe blocks, a central group of blocks that remain in one position andcon stituting'a guiding center around which the other blocks are moved,the said central group of blocks having differently colored arrows indiagonally reverse positions and capable of being changed as to theirrelative positions, and a key block having a designating character anddistinctive word thereon.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature in presence of twowitnesses,

JOSEPH J. TIERNAN.

Witnesses: v

LEO F. GRAHAM, EDWARD J. SCHAUEB.

